CVC to probe AIIMS anomalies

BHOPAL: Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) will begin investigations at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal here on Tuesday. CVC probe team comes close on the heels of a Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) preliminary inquiry last week, looking into allegations and counter allegations of irregularities and corruption against top AIIMS Bhopal officials.
Investigations will be headed by CVC 's chief technical examiner Ramesh Chandra. A senior member from vigilance unit of MoHFW is likely to accompany Chandra.
CVC visit comes in the wake of preliminary investigation by Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) director Sanjeev Chaddha last week.
Sources said Chaddha has dismissed the case against head department of physiology, AIIMS Bhopal, Dr SS Mishra. All five other complaints, including that by state Bharatiya Janata Party chief and MP Nand Kumar Chauhan are still under review.
According to sources, CVC is likely to investigate deviations and variations at the hospital complex. A highly placed source said, "Government is concerned that it may suffer losses due to cost escalation, if work is not completed and facilities remain unutilized at AIIMS Bhopal." Completion of hospital and other facilities is already three years behind schedule.
However, an AIIMS Bhopal official described chief technical examiner's visit as 'regular process'.
Indications are that institute administration is faced with questions over blockade of about Rs 50 crore due to improper planning apart from queries on irregular procurement, irregular payments, loss to government by not imposing penalties on suppliers for late supply, among %other things.
MoHFW is in a tizzy over objections to multiple accounts being operated by AIIMS Bhopal, instead of one, as permitted. Instances of AIIMS Bhopal being leased is also under review. On October 17, MoHFW held a meeting of all the financial advisors (FA) of all six new AIIMS. Sources said that MoHFW is also in a fix over alleged illegal appointment of AIIMS Bhopal FA Rajesh Nigam. Minutes of the meeting dated October 21 observed that 'irregular drawal of pay by some FAs is highly objectionable and such action by FA has to be stopped forthwith.'